Kingi Porima

Waipapa Marae Kingi has a background in forestry and is a past Murupara Borough Council councillor and Management Advisor (Kaitakawaenga) to Te Runanga o te Ika Whenua river claim (Rangitaiki River). Currently Kingi is deputy of the Waikato Raupatu Trustee Company and has served as a member of Te Kauhanganui since 2000. A former chair of Te Arataura, Kingi is also involved with the Waka Alliance forum and is Chair of Waipapa Marae.

Mavis Mullins

Ko Ruahine te maunga, Ko Manawatu te awa,
Ko Rangitane,
na Atihaunui a Paparangi te Iwi,
tihei mauriora

Mavis has a portfolio of business interest in the agricultural sector and is a Director of Paewai Mullins Shearing Ltd; a fourth generation family business in sheep shearing and wool export. Mavis has extensive experience in governance and Māori land management.

Current Directorships include Atihau Whanganui Incorporation, Hautaki Ltd, and Nga Whenua Rahui. Mavis is currently Chair with Aohanga Incorporation, Te Huarahi Tika Trust, Poutama Trust.
 

Ingrid Collins

Ko Pukehapopo te maunga
Ko Waiomoko te awa
Ko Pureihuriata te waka
Ko Ngati Konohi te hapu
Ko Te Aitanga-A-Hauiti te Iwi
Ko Ingrid Nea Collins toku ingoa

Ingrid has more than 35 years experience in Māori Land Incorporations management and Māori land-based business. In addition to successful farm operation on the East Coast of New Zealand, Ingrid’s expertise includes health management and corporate governance.

Current Directorship includes Chair of Whangara B5 Incorporation, Whangara Farms Partnership, Tairawhiti District Health board, part owner/director Kaiti Medical Centre Ltd.
 

Dr Tom Richardson

Originally from the United States, Dr Richardson has worked in New Zealand science for 20 years. Prior to taking up with CEO position at AgResearch in September 2010 he spent 18 years with Scion, 13 as a practising scientist and science manager, and five as CEO. He has had frequent assignments on advisory boards, external review panels and international science and trade delegations.

His science background is in genetics, and he established the genomics research group at Scion and a spin-out company, SignaGen, which brought high-throughput DNA testing to the New Zealand ag-bio sector. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Bucknell University and a doctorate in Botany from Pennsylvania State University.

He holds a number of science-related directorships including the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, Future Forests Research Limited and Science New Zealand of which he is also Deputy Chairman.

Dr Tanira Kingi

Tanira is responsible for developing and implementing AgResearch’s Māori Strategy. He has a PhD in agricultural economics and development from the Australian National University and is currently managing a number of research projects in Māori land development, environmental impacts of pastoral agriculture, and scenario modeling for NZ’s pastoral industries.

Current Directorships include Agriculture ITO, NZ Qualifications Authoritiy and Waerenga-Pukahukiwi Ltd. Former committees of management positions include Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands and Aohanga Incorporation.

Tanira works extensively with Maori incorporations and trusts and iwi authorities and is a regular speaker on Maori land tenure and Maori agribusiness at international conferences including Canada, USA, Malaysia, Australia, Fiji, PNG and other South Pacific Island nations.

Hoani Ponga

Hoani Ponga of Whanganui, Ngāpuhi, Rangitane, Ngāti Tuwharetoa and Te Whānau-a-Apanui descent is the Māori Relationships and Business Manager based at Grasslands.

Hoani comes from a marine science background and brings a depth of experience in local government, Māori community relationships and Maori environmental practice. “This is an exciting time to be a part of contributing to Māori aspirations of economic development. On the whole I believe our people are on the cusp of a significant development breakthrough.”

Irene Kereama-Royal

Irene Kereama-Royal, who is affiliated to Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa and Ngāti Raukawa, is responsible for the Māori partnerships and innovation strategy for AgResearch.

Irene has been involved in Māori community development for more than 20 years. Her particular interests include the development of sustainable community housing on Māori land, she has lectured and practiced in environmental law, presented at national and international conferences on Māori environmental ethics and practice and acted as an independent monitor and panel member for NZQA. Irene has held a number of director positions and trusteeships of Māori companies and Boards and is a current trustee of an Ahu Whenua Trust in the Hauraki Gulf.